Stump-pulling machine



Patented Apr. ll, I899.

E. M; 'BLIISS'. STUMP PULLING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 29, 189 8.)

2 Sheets-Shoat I.

{No Model.)

INVENTOR WITNESSES No.' 623,068. Patented 'Apr. 11, I899.

' .E. m. BLISS.

STUMP PULUNG MACHINE.

(Application filed 'June 29, 1898.)

2 sheetsr-sheet 2.

6N0 Modal.)

INVENTOR WITN ESSES THE mums PETERS ca. PHOTOUTHO" WASHINGTON, n, a

NiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE? EBENEZER M. BLISS, OF TACOMA, \VASI'IINGTON.

STUMP-PULLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,068, dated April 11, 1899. Application filed Jlune 29, 1898-. Serial No. 684,744. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, EBENEZER M. BLISS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stump-Pulling Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. My invention relates to machines for pulling stumps; and it consists in providing such a machine with suitable trucks, a truss carried by the said trucks, and a chain secured to one end of the truss, means 'for winding up the chain to lift the truss, and means for connectin g the truss to the stump to be extracted. It also consists in providing a stump-puller which shall comprise one or more trucks, said trucks being movably securedto one another, a truss mountedupon one. end of the said trucks and extending to a point above one of the other trucks, means for raising the latter end of the said truss, and means for connecting the truss with a stump for extracting the same. 7

It also consists in certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the lifting mechanism, a portion of the truck being shown in section. Fig. 3 represents a top plan view of the said stump-puller. Fig. 4 represents a detail sectional View showing the winding-drums for engaging the lifting-chain. Fig. 5 representsa detail transverse sectional view through the truss, showing the lifting mechanism attached thereto. Fig. 6 represents a perspective view of the grapple mechanism secured to a stump, and Fig. 7 represents a detail view of the grapple-lever.

A in the drawings represents a forward truck; B, a central truck; 0, a truss, and D a rear truck.

In a machine of this character the parts are necessarily made of considerable size, and

the length of the machine necessitates the platform 6 with the platform [9 .means may be applied for the same purpose.

The truck B com rises a lower ortion as b mounted upon suitable wheels, as Z), provided with a tongue or reach, as 19 extending forward to the axle a and pivotally secured thereto by means of a king-bolt, as a The lower portion of the truck B is provided with a platform, as 17 which is adapted to receive a second platform, as 19 mounted thereon. Theplatform b is preferably pivotally secured upon the platform b so that the said platform and thesuperstructure mounted thereon may accommodate itself to the various positions of the machine when in use. A brace or reach, as 12 is preferably secured to the king-bolt a above the axle of and extends to the truck B above the platform b and engages the kin g-bolt a which connects the said Reared upon the platform 19 is a frame or structure b preferably constructed of heavy timbers, as illustrated in the drawings, the upper cross-piece of the said frame supporting pulleys for engaging the lifting-chain. About one-third of the height of the structure I) a cross power-shaft, as G, is mounted and provided at one end with a gear-wheel, as g. A ratchet-wheel, as g, is also secured to the said shaft, preferably just to one side of the gear-wheel g, and is adapted to be engaged by means of a pawl or dog 9 for holding the shaft in certain positions. A counter-shaft, asH, is also mounted in the frame I)? a little above the shaft G and is provided with a gearwheel 72, which meshes with the gear-wheel g. Winding drums or pulleys, as g and 7t,

with the recesses formed therein, are adapted to engage the chain and actuate it without permitting it to slip. A power-wheel, as J, is also secured to the shaft G and is provided with a clutch member, as j, adapted to engage a clutch, as 3', also mounted upon the shaft G. Anysuitable lever, as 7' is mounted upon the frame I) and engages the clutch j to throw the same into and out of engagement with the clutch member j upon the power-wheel J. The periphery of the powerwheel J'is preferably grooved and adapted to' receive a cable, as The said cable, after being wound a suitable number of times about the power-wheel J, passes forward and through a pulley, as 7' upon the forward axle (L The outer end of the said cable may be secured to a team or any other source of power for pulling the said cable outwardly in order to rotate the power-wheel J. The rear truck D preferably comprises an axle cl, mounted upon suitable wheels, the said axle being provided with a reach or tongue (1', braced by means of suitable hounds d with respect to the said axle.

The truss 0 consists, preferably, of a main bar or beam, as c, which is braced by means of inclined beams or bars 0', which meet at a point appproximately above the center of the beam 0. The outer ends of these braces c are firmly bolted to the beams c. The rear end of the truss O is secured in place upon the rear truck D by means of a king-bolt c and the forward end of the truss is suspended above the truck B by means of the liftingchain K. WVhen it is not desired to usethe rear truck D for assisting in guiding the machine when moving it from place to place, the reach or tongue d is preferably fixed to-the under side of the beam 0 by means of an eyebolt, as 01 The forward end of the truss O carries the pulleys or rollers c, which engage the chain K, suspended in the frame b. The said chain K is secured at one end, as at 76, to the frame I). Thence it passes downwardly and about the pulley c and thence upwardly and over the pulley 7t upon the top of the frame 12 From this point it descends again and passes around the pulley c and up over the pulley 70 from which point it again descends and is passed about winding-pulleys g and 71'. When .it is desired to lift the forward end of the truss C,

power is attached to the cable 3' which is wound upon the power-wheel J. Upon drawing the cable 7' outwardly the power-Wheel J will be revolved, communicating, through the clutch j, its movement to the shaft G, which will wind the drums g and h to operate the chain K. By this means the front end of the truss will be gradually raised in the frame 19 In order to secure a stump to the truss O, the said truss is provided with a yoke, as 0 which finds suitable bearing upon the top'of the braces c and extends downwardly to either side of the lower beam 0, where it is guided and held in place by means of clips 0 The lower ends of the yoke c are provided with eyes adapted to receive and support a cross pin or bolt, as c. A clip or clevis, as 0 is loosely mounted upon the pin or bolt 0 so as to have a movement thereon; The ring of the clevis c is swiveled in the lower crosshead thereof, the cross-head of the said clevis receiving between its free ends a bar, as c which is pivotally secured to the said clevis 0 The grapple, which is adapted to be attached to the trunk of the tree to be pulled, consists, pref erably, of a chain, as M, and a bell-crank lever, as 'm. The lever mis preferably formed with its members at an angle of about ninety degrees to each other, the main portion of the said lever being preferably composed of two side bars, as m, bolted together at suitable intervals and provided atone end with angular end portions, as m These angular end portions may be provided with engaging teeth, as m if desired, for engaging more securely the stump. Hooks, as m, are secured upon either side of the other arm of the lever m and engage the chain M. The outer ends of the bars m are pivotally secured to the bar 0 the said bar being preferably arranged between them. VVhen it is desired to secure a stump to the truss O for lifting and extracting it from the ground, the chain M is passed about the stump, and the bellcrank leverm is hooked thereon and arranged in a position similar to that illustratedin Fig. 6 of the drawings. to the bar 0 by means of a loose bolt, the truss being arranged in a suitable position with respect to the same. hen the stump has been thus secured to the truss, the lifting mechanism is operated for lifting the forward end of the truss, and the stump is thus lifted from the ground. If the cable 7 becomes completely unwound from the power Wheel Jbefore the stump has been lifted high enough, the pawl g is brought into engagement with the ratchet-wheel g to hold the mechanism until the cable can be rewound again upon the power-wheel J, the clutch j permitting of this operation. When the cable has been rewound upon the powerwheel, it can be drawn out again, so as to raise the forward end of the truss still higher. As will be readily seen from the drawings, the chain K, as above described, is so arranged that while it exerts great power upon the end of the truss C it is forced to move slowly. This is necessary in lifting heavy loads; but when it is desired to lift lighter loads quicker motion may be imparted to the truss O by placing wedges, as on the chain K just behind the pulleys 70 and the pulley c. This will cause the chain to act upon the truss as though the end of the chain were rigidly secured to the pulley c and will impart a much quicker movement to the truss G.

The Wheels of the truck B are preferably made sufficiently small to turn readily beheath the floor I)". By having the trucks piv- The lever is then secured IIO selves to the position of the truss O at all times. If it is desired to use the rear truck C for assisting in guiding the same, the eye bolt (1 may be removed, when the reach or tongue 1) is free to be used in guiding the 7 rear wheels.

By forming the body portion of the bellcrank lever in of two bars, as illustrated in the drawings, a slot is left between the same for a portion of its length. It will be apparent that if it is desired to have a greater leverage upon the said bell-crank lever a bar or lever may be inserted in the said slot and its ends secured to the truss for lifting the same.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A stump-puller, comprising a succession of trucks connected together, pivoted means interposed between the rear truck and the center one, and pivotal means connecting the center truck with the front one, whereby the stump-puller may adjust itself readily to any position required, and means mounted upon one truck for operating a I stump raising means, substantially as described.

2. In a stump-puller, the combination with a truss, of a truck for supporting one end of it,'a second truck for supporting the forward end of it, pivotal means interposed between the said forward end and the second truck, means upon the second truck for raising the forward end of the truss, and means for securing the truss to a stump, substantially as described.

3. In a stump-puller, the combination of a plurality of trucks pivoted together, a truss mounted upon one of said trucks, a liftingchain mounted upon another truck and engaging the other end of the said truss, a plurality of drums mounted upon the said truck and engaging the lifting-chain upon opposite sides thereof so that it will not slip upon them, and means for revolving the drums, whereby the chain will lift the truss, substantially as described.

4:. In a stump-puller, the combination with trucks pivotally secured together, of a truss mounted upon one end of said trucks and extending over a second truck, a frame pivotally mounted upon the second truck, a chain mounted upon the said frame, and engaging one end of the said truss, a power-shaft mounted upon the frame of the second truck a gear-wheel mounted at one end of said shaft and a power-wheel at the other end thereof, the said gear-wheel meshing with a gear-wheel upon a second shaft, drums secured to the saidshafts for engaging a chain, and a cable secured to the power-wheel for rotating the power-shaft, the construction bemeans for securing the said truss to a stump,

a chain for lifting one end of the said truss, said chain being secured at one end to a frame upon one of the said trucks, pulleys upon the said trucks for engaging the said chain, pulleys upon the said frame for supporting the chain, a power-shaft also mounted upon the said frame, and a power-wheel for operating the said power-shaft, a drum upon the powershaft, a ratchet-wheel also mounted upon the said power-shaft, a controlling dog or pawl for engaging the said ratchet -wheel, and means for revolving the power-wheel, the construction being such thatupon revolving the power wheel and shaft, the drum will wind up the chain and lift the end of the truss for pulling up the stump, substantially as described.

6. In a stump-puller, the'combination with suitable trucks,of a platform pivotally mounted upon one of the said trucks, a truss pivotally mounted upon another truck, and extending over the first-mentioned truck, means for raising the end of the said truss over the first truck, and means for connecting the truss to a stump, the construction being such that the pivoted platform upon the second truck will accommodate itself to the position of the truss for exerting a straight pull upon the end of the truss, substantially as described.

7. In a stump-puller, the combination with a suitable truss and means for lifting the same, of a grapple connected with the said truss and adapted to engage a stump, said grapple comprising a chain for surrounding the stump and a bell-crank lever adapted to have a bearing thereon at its angular portion and engaging the said chain, and means for connecting the said lever to' the said truss, substantially as described.

8. In a stump-puller, the combination with a truss, of means for lifting the same, means for attaching the said truss to a stump, comprising a yoke mounted upon the truss and carrying a pin, a swiveled clevis mounted upon the said pin and supporting a bar, a bellcrank 1e ver adapted to en gage the stump, teeth upon the angle of the said lever for obtaining a firm hold on the said stump, anda chain for holding the same against the stump, the construction being such that when the truss is lifted the bell-crank lever will be caused to lift the same from the ground, substantially as described.

9. In a stump-puller, the combination with a truss, of means for connecting the said truss to a stump, a power-shaft mounted upon the machine, a drum upon said shaft for engaging a lifting-chain, a power-wheel mounted upon the said power-shaft, means for revolving the said wheel and a clutch for throwing the said power-wheel into and out of engagement with the power-shaft, substantially as described.

10. In a stump-puller, the combination with a truss, of a chain for lifting the same, one end of the said chain being secured to a frame upon the machine, pulleys upon' said truss, and frame, about which the said chain is passed, a power-shaft for engaging the said chain, and Wedges for engaging the chain at one side of the pulleys, the construction being such that when the Wedges are placed upon the chain,the chain will operate to lift the truss rapidly and when they are removed from the chain, it will lift the truss more slowly but with greater power, substantially as described.

11. In a stump-puller, the combination with suitable trucks, of a truss pivotally mounted at one end upon one of said trucks and eX-' tending over a second truck, means upon the second truck for raising that end of the truss, the truck supporting the other end of the truss being pivotally secured thereto, a reach or tongue attached to said truck, and means for securing the reach to the truss, the construction being such that when it is desired to use the said truck for guiding the machine, the reach may be detached from the truss, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EBENEZER. M. BLISS. 

